Do dates book up at the one year mark?

I know I'm going to be getting engaged sometime before the end of the year, most likely in December. I really want either an October or November wedding. Will all the dates for those months already be booked up since I won't be engaged until after the one year mark?

Advertisement

That depends- are you planning on having an Escape or Wishes wedding? Escape can be booked at 10 months out, Wishes at 12 months out. For either one, most likely your date will be available, unless you're wanting the Wedding Pavilion during a high traffic time like Christmas or some other holiday. So based on what you mentioned above, if you wanted a Thanksgiving wedding, yes, you might run the risk of your date being popular with other brides, in which case for Wishes they place you into a lottery system. But if it's some other day in October or November, especially if you're Wishes, you should be okay because 12 months is the earliest you can book anyway.

That depends- are you planning on having an Escape or Wishes wedding? Escape can be booked at 10 months out, Wishes at 12 months out. For either one, most likely your date will be available, unless you're wanting the Wedding Pavilion during a high traffic time like Christmas or some other holiday. So based on what you mentioned above, if you wanted a Thanksgiving wedding, yes, you might run the risk of your date being popular with other brides, in which case for Wishes they place you into a lottery system. But if it's some other day in October or November, especially if you're Wishes, you should be okay because 12 months is the earliest you can book anyway.

Click to expand...

I was thinking of 11/11, I really like that date. So its not near a holiday, but I feel like others might like that date too. I think wishes would be the only one to work for me since I can't cut my number of people down to 18. When I was playing around with the numbers on the website it looked like the wedding pavilion is the only option I could do for an indoor wedding? Is that right?

Yeah as Lurkyloo said above, there’s several locations within Epcot (like American Adventure Rotunda) or ballrooms at the resorts where you could have your ceremony indoors. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend buying the Passporters Guide to Disney Weddings book to help answer all of these logistical questions for you. It’s SO helpful and covers pretty much everything! It definitely helped me a lot when I first started planning.

As for your date, that day *might* be popular for sure, but the only way you’ll get put in the lottery is if someone else wants your exact date, time, and location, which surprisingly doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. Especially if you don’t want the Pavilion, you’ll have much better chances of getting the date you want.

How does the lottery work? So if I'm the very first person to request a certain date with time and place and then other people come in after and want the exact same thing we all go into a lottery? Or does the first person get it and then if they back out the others have a shot of getting it? A lot of my friends think I'm crazy for requesting a date before I actually get engaged. If everyone got put into a lottery would it then make better sense to just wait until I actually am engaged to request the day?

Yeah so I might be wrong on this because I’m Escape and haven’t much dealt with this issue, but from what I understand if someone requests the exact same combo as you of date/ceremony time/location, then you would both(all) be put in the lottery. The way to avoid that is as Lurky said, give them several options/combos that you’re okay with. They’ll let you know about the lottery and you could then switch to one of your backup times, if t was still available, or go ahead with the lottery process.

I personally wouldn’t book your date until your engaged, because if someone wants that exact combo you’ll get put in the lottery anyway. However, the one benefit to doing it so early would be the better likelihood of at least getting one of your backup options. So I guess it’s really up to you!

Do you have any idea what time/locations you’re wanting? That might help to judge whether or not you’ll get put in the lottery. Remember, Disney has several ceremony start times (I think it’s something like 5 diff options) so if you’re really not willing to budge on the date, being flexible with the time you want is going to help a lot with avoiding the lottery.

Yeah so I might be wrong on this because I’m Escape and haven’t much dealt with this issue, but from what I understand if someone requests the exact same combo as you of date/ceremony time/location, then you would both(all) be put in the lottery. The way to avoid that is as Lurky said, give them several options/combos that you’re okay with. They’ll let you know about the lottery and you could then switch to one of your backup times, if t was still available, or go ahead with the lottery process.

I personally wouldn’t book your date until your engaged, because if someone wants that exact combo you’ll get put in the lottery anyway. However, the one benefit to doing it so early would be the better likelihood of at least getting one of your backup options. So I guess it’s really up to you!

Do you have any idea what time/locations you’re wanting? That might help to judge whether or not you’ll get put in the lottery. Remember, Disney has several ceremony start times (I think it’s something like 5 diff options) so if you’re really not willing to budge on the date, being flexible with the time you want is going to help a lot with avoiding the lottery.

Click to expand...

The only things I really want are the wedding pavilion and the day 11/11. So if the lottery would happen anyway I guess I should wait. Is there a time where the day and options are just no longer available and a lottery won't happen again?

The only things I really want are the wedding pavilion and the day 11/11. So if the lottery would happen anyway I guess I should wait. Is there a time where the day and options are just no longer available and a lottery won't happen again?

Click to expand...

There is, but honestly I’m not sure when that is. I would just wait. If you get put in the lottery, you would then have the option to change your time, so you could guarantee that you get it and not wait on the lottery results.

The only things I really want are the wedding pavilion and the day 11/11. So if the lottery would happen anyway I guess I should wait. Is there a time where the day and options are just no longer available and a lottery won't happen again?

Click to expand...

If someone else wants what you want, 11/12/17 is when the day and options are no longer available. Here's the explanation of the lottery from my PassPorter:

If more than one couple wants the same date, time, and venue for their ceremony or reception, a lottery is held at the 12-month mark. Usually only the Wedding Pavilion is in enough demand to require a lottery, although other locations may inspire one on popular dates. Requesting a Friday or a Saturday will also increase the likelihood that you’ll end up in a lottery.

Initially, the lottery is based on ceremony time. Although there may be only two couples who want the same time slot at one venue, every couple holding a wedding there that day must be entered into the lottery because the couples who lose that coveted time slot will need to be scheduled at their second- or third-choice times. Even if a couple gets their first-choice ceremony site, there may then be competition for their reception venue, meaning the times could shift again depending on which is more important to them—the ceremony time or the reception venue. If you will be entered into a lottery, you’ll need to consider your priorities. It’s a good idea to give your Wedding Consultant a few alternative combinations of date, time, and venue.

The lottery is held 12 months, to the day, before the event date or on the first business day following the date if it falls on a weekend. Your Wedding Consultant will notify you of the outcome on the following business day. After the 12-month mark, no lottery is required. If the site you want is not being used by another group, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings will request it from the central scheduling office and receive confirmation within 48 hours.

If someone else wants what you want, 11/12/17 is when the day and options are no longer available. Here's the explanation of the lottery from my PassPorter:

If more than one couple wants the same date, time, and venue for their ceremony or reception, a lottery is held at the 12-month mark. Usually only the Wedding Pavilion is in enough demand to require a lottery, although other locations may inspire one on popular dates. Requesting a Friday or a Saturday will also increase the likelihood that you’ll end up in a lottery.

Initially, the lottery is based on ceremony time. Although there may be only two couples who want the same time slot at one venue, every couple holding a wedding there that day must be entered into the lottery because the couples who lose that coveted time slot will need to be scheduled at their second- or third-choice times. Even if a couple gets their first-choice ceremony site, there may then be competition for their reception venue, meaning the times could shift again depending on which is more important to them—the ceremony time or the reception venue. If you will be entered into a lottery, you’ll need to consider your priorities. It’s a good idea to give your Wedding Consultant a few alternative combinations of date, time, and venue.

The lottery is held 12 months, to the day, before the event date or on the first business day following the date if it falls on a weekend. Your Wedding Consultant will notify you of the outcome on the following business day. After the 12-month mark, no lottery is required. If the site you want is not being used by another group, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings will request it from the central scheduling office and receive confirmation within 48 hours.

Click to expand...

Thanks this is really informative! So I really would need to request it before i get engaged to ensure I get that day. Are Sunday's a popular day?

I wish I could make my boyfriend propose quicker lol. This is a bit my fault I told him I wanted a grand proposal and I guess that takes a long time planning

Thanks this is really informative! So I really would need to request it before i get engaged to ensure I get that day. Are Sunday's a popular day?

I wish I could make my boyfriend propose quicker lol. This is a bit my fault I told him I wanted a grand proposal and I guess that takes a long time planning

Click to expand...

I was the same way- I totally get it! Lol.

I’m not sure if Wishes works the same way as Escape, but for Escape you can contact them 1 month before you can officially book to “pencil you in”. If wishes works the same, you could contact them 13 months in advance of the date you want to put your name in the ring and that way you’d be on the list for the lottery, should that be required.

Thanks this is really informative! So I really would need to request it before i get engaged to ensure I get that day. Are Sunday's a popular day?

I wish I could make my boyfriend propose quicker lol. This is a bit my fault I told him I wanted a grand proposal and I guess that takes a long time planning

Click to expand...

If it makes you feel better, I scheduled our site visit with DFTW before we were engaged. I knew it was coming (had picked out the ring with him and all) and I wanted to get the date I wanted 11/2/2012, and we were going on a vacation during september 2011. So i made the arrangements, ringless but just to get things started as we both knew this is what we wanted. As it happens, he proposed the Friday before our vacation but either way I wanted to get rolling and get that contact signed 1 year out. 11/2 was important to me as the date. We did not end up in a lottery despite being on a Friday and having the wedding pavilion.

Yes, also if it helps, I booked my honeymoon before getting engaged! Lol. There was a great deal on the cruise I wanted so I just booked it. I figured, if we didn’t get engaged in time for it to be our honeymoon, worst case is we just make it a regular (albeit expensive!) vacation! Lol

I’m not sure if Wishes works the same way as Escape, but for Escape you can contact them 1 month before you can officially book to “pencil you in”. If wishes works the same, you could contact them 13 months in advance of the date you want to put your name in the ring and that way you’d be on the list for the lottery, should that be required.

Click to expand...

Thanks! This weekend I'm going to go over details with my boyfriend of what we'd do exactly. All my friends said I was crazy, but he said go for it lol.

If it makes you feel better, I scheduled our site visit with DFTW before we were engaged. I knew it was coming (had picked out the ring with him and all) and I wanted to get the date I wanted 11/2/2012, and we were going on a vacation during september 2011. So i made the arrangements, ringless but just to get things started as we both knew this is what we wanted. As it happens, he proposed the Friday before our vacation but either way I wanted to get rolling and get that contact signed 1 year out. 11/2 was important to me as the date. We did not end up in a lottery despite being on a Friday and having the wedding pavilion.

Click to expand...

It does make me feel better I know he has the ring and he's proposing in December, so it's pretty much 100% certain. He said he didn't really care about the date, he'd elope with me tomorrow or wait two years for the perfect day if that's what I wanted. He agrees 11/11 is a good day, now he wants to get married at 11:11 too lol.

Yes, also if it helps, I booked my honeymoon before getting engaged! Lol. There was a great deal on the cruise I wanted so I just booked it. I figured, if we didn’t get engaged in time for it to be our honeymoon, worst case is we just make it a regular (albeit expensive!) vacation! Lol

Click to expand...

It does help He's been talking about the honeymoon for a while. We've been talking about marriage for a while, I think if I didn't want something really nice for a proposal he would have asked a while ago. But he's trying to make it special. I'm clearly terrible at surprises

If there is a lottery for the day I want and I can't get the time or venue I want, can I tell them I want a different day entirely? If I couldn't get it, I'd probably just want to get engaged and then plan from there. Do I have to give them money to be entered into the lottery? Or is the money due once you get what you want?

If there is a lottery for the day I want and I can't get the time or venue I want, can I tell them I want a different day entirely? If I couldn't get it, I'd probably just want to get engaged and then plan from there. Do I have to give them money to be entered into the lottery? Or is the money due once you get what you want?

Click to expand...

You don't pay any money until you sign the Letter of Agreement (LOA) which would be signed AFTER the lottery happened. If your specific time and date were going to need a lottery, you could absolutely tell them that you wanted a different date entirely and you want to "bow out" of the lottery.

Here's what I would do if I were you, since this seems to be weighing heavily on your mind- since you're within the 13 month mark as of yesterday (I think, right? You want 11/11/18?), give them a call. It will take them a few days to get back to you with a sales consultant. Let them know your perfect scenario and see if anyone else is currently booked for that date & time & location. If so, you know you'll need a lottery. If not, then you can decide if you want them to "pencil you in" or if you want to wait until after you're engaged.

I wish we could be of better help, but it really is a gamble until you sign the LOA. I would just go with what your heart says. If you REALLY want this date and aren't willing to compromise on that, then there's absolutely no harm in contacting them before you are engaged. If you're feeling like maybe you could be more flexible, then maybe wait. Just go with your gut!

You don't pay any money until you sign the Letter of Agreement (LOA) which would be signed AFTER the lottery happened. If your specific time and date were going to need a lottery, you could absolutely tell them that you wanted a different date entirely and you want to "bow out" of the lottery.

Here's what I would do if I were you, since this seems to be weighing heavily on your mind- since you're within the 13 month mark as of yesterday (I think, right? You want 11/11/18?), give them a call. It will take them a few days to get back to you with a sales consultant. Let them know your perfect scenario and see if anyone else is currently booked for that date & time & location. If so, you know you'll need a lottery. If not, then you can decide if you want them to "pencil you in" or if you want to wait until after you're engaged.

I wish we could be of better help, but it really is a gamble until you sign the LOA. I would just go with what your heart says. If you REALLY want this date and aren't willing to compromise on that, then there's absolutely no harm in contacting them before you are engaged. If you're feeling like maybe you could be more flexible, then maybe wait. Just go with your gut!

Click to expand...

Thanks! This is really helpful. Yes, it would be 11/11/18. I just really liked the 11/11, I always make a wish when it's 11:11 on the clock, so I thought it would be kind of perfect. Since my boyfriend doesn't care what day we get married I think if I couldn't have the 11/11 I'd just wait to get engaged. But I'll definitely call and see if anyone else has that day already marked down. I'd probably still do the lottery, but if I'd mention I don't have backups and would just change to a different day if I don't get it.